Given below are two statements : Statement I : Pampadevi, the goddess of the Vijayanagara Empire, performed penance to marry Vishnu. Statement II : This marriage ceremony of Pampadevi is organised with great pomp every year in Virupaksha Temple. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Pampadevi

• Pampadevi is a local mother goddess of the Tungabhadra region and is regarded as a form of Parvati. According to tradition, she performed penance to win Lord Virupaksha, a form of Shiva, and not Vishnu. Hence, statement I is false.
• The very name Hampi is derived from Pampa, and the region was known as Pampakshetra.

Virupaksha Temple

• The Virupaksha temple at Hampi is dedicated to Virupaksha, the guardian deity of the Vijayanagara rulers, who issued their royal orders in the name of Shri Virupaksha.
• The annual celebration of the marriage of Virupaksha and Pampadevi, along with the chariot festival, is held with great pomp in the temple. Hence, statement II is true.